History of Pennsylvania State University facts for kids

The Pennsylvania State University started on February 22, 1855. It was first called the Farmers' High School of Pennsylvania. The school was built in Centre County because James Irvin donated 200 acres of land and sold more.

In 1861, Penn State had its first group of graduates. They were the first students to finish a four-year program at an American agricultural college. In 1862, the school's name changed to the Agricultural College of Pennsylvania. The next year, Pennsylvania chose it to be the state's only land grant college. This meant it received land from the government to help fund education.

Later, the school tried to teach both farming and other subjects. Student numbers went down for a while. In 1874, the school's name changed again to the Pennsylvania State College. At first, the college got money from student fees and selling land. The state government started giving money to the college in 1887.

Leaders of Penn State

George W. Atherton: A Key Leader

George W. Atherton became the school's president in 1882. He worked hard to offer more types of classes. He helped expand the mechanical arts program, which taught skills like carpentry and metalworking. In 1886, a new department for mechanical engineering was created. Soon, Penn State became one of the biggest engineering schools in the country.

Atherton also made the liberal arts and agriculture programs bigger. Because of his efforts, the state started giving regular money to the college. Many people believe Atherton saved Penn State from serious financial trouble. A main road in State College is named Atherton Street in his honor. His grave is near Old Main, the main building at the University Park campus.

Growing in the Early 1900s

In the years after Atherton, Penn State grew a lot. By 1936, about 5,000 students were enrolled. It became the biggest source of four-year degrees in Pennsylvania. During this time, President Ralph Dorn Hetzel started "Commonwealth campuses." These were smaller campuses that allowed students to study closer to home. This was helpful during the Great Depression, when many families had less money.

Mid-1900s Developments

In 1950, Milton Eisenhower became Penn State's president. He led the school for six years. In 1953, the school's name officially changed to The Pennsylvania State University. In 1955, Penn State opened its nuclear reactor. It was only the second one in the nation at a college.

Dr. Eric A. Walker took over as president in 1956. Under his leadership, the university grew very quickly. From 1956 to 1970, the university bought hundreds more acres of land. The number of students almost tripled, reaching 40,000.

In 1963, the Hershey Trust Company gave Penn State $50 million. This money was used to build the Hershey Medical Center. It included a new college of medicine and a hospital in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The College of Medicine welcomed its first students in 1967. The Hershey Medical Center started helping patients in 1970. In 1965, Penn State also began its own educational TV station, WPSX-TV.

Penn State Today

In the 1970s, The Pennsylvania State University became a "state-related" institution. This means it works with the state government, like the University of Pittsburgh and Temple University. It is part of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education.

Penn State is a very important leader in education in Pennsylvania. In 1989, the Pennsylvania College of Technology joined the university system. In 1997, the Dickinson School of Law also became part of Penn State.

By 2000, Penn State's special fund (called an endowment) reached $1 billion. Today, it is the largest university in Pennsylvania. In 2003, it was found to have the biggest impact on the state's economy. It brought in over $6 billion for Pennsylvania. The university also raises money from donations to help support its programs.

In 2004, Penn State started celebrating its 150th birthday. The actual 150-year mark, called its sesquicentennial, was in 2005.